OT: Infuriating Problems w/ iPod Touch & 3mm Earbud Pin(s)

[kippyw]

I received this iPod Touch 3rd generation (purchased 10/2009) as a birthday gift new 3 years ago. I absolutely love the device, except for the one simple function that should be the top of the list for Apple engineers. WHY IS THE EARBUD JACK SO FAULTY? I have purchased about a dozen different earbuds ranging from the $100 Caddilac to the $4 El Cheapo and all will fail eventually, some fail on the first day. It is definitely the "female" side of this that is causing the problem. I can immediately plug the same earbuds into any other device and they work perfectly. Yesterday I even tried to connect my iPod Touch to our home stereo using the 3mm pin and now that is dead.
I Google'd this and saw a video on cleaning the internal connections with a modified Q-tip... no improvement.
Question: If I were to only purchase my earbuds from the Apple product line will that solve the problem? My ears are shaped so small I cannot use the standard buds, I have to use the "inside the ear' type.

 

[Kaykaykay]

Using Apple earbuds shouldn't make any difference. I don't use Apple earbuds with any of my iDevices, but all my 3.5mm earbuds and earphones have worked fine. I throw all the original Apple earbuds in a glovebox or work drawer, in case I ever need earbuds in a pinch, but have yet to need them.

 

[kippyw]

OK... Then maybe a solution would be to purchase a pair of bluetooth earbuds as a work-around. I hate when such minor things in life cause a major irritation. Somedays I'll be halfway through my workout and the earbuds will start acting up. Grrrrrrrrrr

 

[Kaykaykay]

OK... Then maybe a solution would be to purchase a pair of bluetooth earbuds as a work-around. I hate when such minor things in life cause a major irritation. Somedays I'll be halfway through my workout and the earbuds will start acting up. Grrrrrrrrrr

That would probably work. Does your iPod support BT?

 

[kippyw]

That would probably work. Does your iPod support BT?

Yes, I can play it through the BT auto stereo in my when I want to.